Langroya village transformation: From ‘Dode’ and ‘chitta’ hub to 99 per cent drug free
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Langroya, May 17
Sunita Rani, who sold drugs till a year and a half ago, now relies on cattle for sustenance. She’s one among hundreds of former drug peddlers from the Langroya village at Nawanshahr, who’ve bid a final good bye to the disreputable occupation of drug selling, prompted by village’s relentless panchayat members.
State CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s repeated reiteration of Langroya village Sarpanch Gurdev Singh’s claim that the village is now 99 per cent drug free – has catapulted the village to overnight fame – with the panchayat flooded with calls from other villages.
A ground visit to Langroya by The Tribune team revealed that the claim is well founded and involves a story of profound reform.
From a poppy husk hub in the 1980s to a sought after place for ‘chitta’ buyers, a new panchayat in 2018 turned things around for Langroya. Recent support from upright police officials rooted out, what remained of drugs.
An unmissable notice at the panchayat ghar today reads, “Caution: ‘Anyone selling drugs will be legally acted against’, ‘Anyone helping a peddler will be opposed by the entire nagar panchayat’, ‘the village won’t bail out any of the drug peddlers’.”
A Retired SDO, second time Sarpanch Gurdev Singh claims, “Neither administration nor panchayats can eradicate drug menace alone. With 50-50 contribution by both, Langroya is 99 per cent drug free today. As CM said, a seed is indeed left. No one can be 100 per cent sure about what a peddler does privately. Under our watch, no one dares to sell ‘chitta’ now.”
Educated, conscientious, rational men working beyond “party bazi” (party considerations), were picked by residents to run the panchayat in 2018. The huge football trophies lining the panchayat ghar – are the fruit of the decision.
Of the 75-member, award winning Football team of the village, 35 are children of former peddlers. The entire school fee of the children is funded by the Sant Baba Karam Singh Sports club, run by NRIs and panchayat. Their mothers (some of them former peddlers) were persuaded to take up NREGA works to keep hearths burning.
Sarpanch Gurdev Singh says, “Langroya was a hub of ‘purest opium’ in region, with clients coming from Nakodar, Phagwara, Ludhiana and at times from 90 km away (Chandigarh) for ‘khalis dode’ in 80s. Same sellers moved to chitta in past 10 to 20 years. Village peddlers have 150 to 200 cases against them, 15 to 20 are in jail. 2019 onwards, we passed panchayat resolutions claiming drug sellers won’t be spared. We began persuading, visiting, them to quit drugs, and reformed kids and women. A former SHO Naresh Kumari supported us and led a crackdown against peddlers which is continued by present SHO Ashok Kumar. The village is clean. Now no motorbike stops here at odd hours (to buy drugs).”
Former panch Parminder Singh says, “We also demand that no drug peddler should receive bail from third case onwards. Any police official caught in drugs case should also be dismissed and not receive bail. This is the only way to eradicate drugs completely.”
Former peddler Sunita Rai says, “Sarpanch Sahib has cleared the village of drugs. I’ve kept cattle for my living now, that’s enough. No one knocks my door at odd hours anymore. This life is so much better. I’m never going back to the old occupation."
Punjab